| Catawba Falls | |
|---|---|
Catawba Falls, December 2009 |
|
| Location | McDowell County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina |
| Type | Cascade |
| Total height | 100 ft (30 m) (estimated) |
| Upper Catawba Falls | |
|---|---|
Upper Catawba Falls, December 2009 |
|
| Location | McDowell County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina |
| Type | Cascade |
| Total height | 100 ft (30 m) (estimated) |
Catawba Falls is a series of waterfalls on the headwaters of the Catawba River, in McDowell County, near Old Fort, North Carolina.
The Catawba River flows over 2 major waterfalls in a short distance. The first drop, called Upper Catawba Falls, consists of an upper free-fall drop, while the second drop a short distance downstream, often called just Catawba Falls, is a higher series of free-falls and cascades.
Catawba Falls is part of the Pisgah National Forest. For many years, while the falls were located on public land, visitor access to the falls was heavily restricted. The only access points to the falls were a trail that went through private property, and an access point off of Interstate 40. Use of either access point was illegal.[1]
In 2005 and 2007, purchases were made by the Forest Service of 88 acres (360,000 m2) of land near the trailhead. In 2010, access to the falls was officially opened to the public. The Forest Service plans further improvements, including a larger parking area and a foot bridge over a tricky crossing of the river along the trail.[2] [3]
The trail to both falls is accessible from the parking area at the end of Catawba Falls road, just off of Interstate 40 at Exit 73 (Old Fort). The easy-to-moderate trail leads to the base of Catawba Falls and then climbs steeply to the base of Upper Catawba Falls. The trail along the way features other, smaller waterfalls. Visitors should stick to the trails, as going off-trail is very, very dangerous.[3]